Jason Shibata Wins One For Kimo

Jason Shibata just won the Sponsor Me Hawaii Ala Moana Bowls 2-Star QS– his first ASP victory at home– and he can't stop thanking everyone.

On stage while accepting the $5,000 first place prize, the 29-year-old never raises his arms to claim the victory like a braggart. Instead, Shibata thanks his wife, family, friends, sponsors, and the contest organizers. All the while flashing his trademark ear-to-ear smile. The same grin he wore since getting spit out a long Ala Moana tube and scoring an 8.9 in the final.

"Fortunately I got good waves and that was enough for today," said Shibata who won the Sponsor Me Ala Moana Bowls in firing, 4-foot waves. He won the event with a two-wave total of 16.75 out of a possible 20 points.

"To surf Bowls five times and for every heat to get longer and longer was a dream come true and I'm so thankful how everything turned out," he said.

In the post-contest interview, Jason "The Bats" Shibata, continued to show appreciation while answering reporter's questions.

"Thank you so much, Aunty Faith," says Shibata to ASP Hawaii Director Faith Wenzel between questions as she walks by smiling.

"Thanks, Freddy P."

"Thanks, Missy."

4th place finisher Casey Brown from the Big Island of Hawaii. Photo: Willi

WCT surfer and one of Jason's best friends Fred Patacchia trots by with his girlfriend and two dogs in-tow during the interview. Then fourth place finisher Casey Brown comes by to give Shibata a congratulatory hug and kind words.

Shibata's humbleness and appreciation toward everyone isn't an act. It's a representation of the endearing Aloha Spirit that we've all come to know and love about Jason Shibata in his 13 years as a professional surfer. While he's won abroad before there aren't many things sweeter to a Hawaiian surfer than winning in the islands.

Pancho Sullivan powering his way to third place. Photo: Willi

"It's a blessing to win at home," admitted Shibata. "I was really honored to surf with those guys and I'm happy to come out on top."

That wasn't a fake a quote out of Jason's mouth. You could tell that the diminutive, regular-foot was genuinely stoked to share a final heat with Kai Barger, Pancho Sullivan and Casey Brown. And, you know what? His fellow finalists were psyching that Shibata won.

"It was sick because [Shibata and I] both made the semis and I think we had a heat before that so we were on the same side of the draw," said Kai Barger who finished a close second place at the Sponsor Me Hawaii Ala Moana Bowls 2-Star QS. "So we were both fighting through it together and he just had a smile the whole time so I'm stoked to see him win. I'm not even bummed."

The display of camaraderie and joy for Shibata's first ASP Hawaiian victory was reminiscent of Joel Centeio's 2009 Reef Hawaiian Pro win– all hugs, handshakes and smiles after the event. No snapping at the judges. No temper tantrums. No pouty faces on the podium.

Just when it seemed like Shibata would finally take credit for shredding Ala Moana Bowls to pieces in the interview he stayed to true to his nature and thanked an underground, Hawaiian surfing coach.

"I'd to really stress thanking Kimo Middlesworth because– not just for myself but also for Joel Centeio, Sean Moody, Kekoa Bacalso, Kekoa Cazimero all the way back to Kalani Robb, Shmoo and Sunny– he always took the time to put the surfers first and able to showcase surfing like this," said Shibata at the end of the post-event interview. "This one was for Kimo!"— Daniel Ikaika Ito